Copying-machine.



PATENTED JAN. 14 1908. A. D. KLABER.

COPYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 14.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IINVENTOR ATTORNEY rns-mmms PETERS C0,, WASHINGTON, o. c.

PATENTED JAN. 14., 1908.

A. D. KLABER. COPYING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED MAIL14.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 lN VENTOR AUGUSTUS -D. KLABER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

' COPYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14:, 1908.

Application filed March 14. 1907- Serial No. 362.316.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS D. KLABER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Copying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to copying machines adapted particularly for use in offices in making copies of letters and other matter written either by hand or upon a typewriter.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine for this use which can be readily operated to produce copies rapidly, which is reliable in operation, and with which the copies obtained are clear and uniform.

The machine consists, generally, of a sup ply-roller on which a continuous web of copying-paper is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and the impression.

sheets pass, a receiving roller on which the web is wound after passing between the copying-rollers, and cutting devices for cutting the web .upon the receiving roller.

One feature of my invention resides in the provision of a novel form of feeding device for the impression sheets. This device is ar ranged to coact with the forward edge of the impression sheets and to feed the same for ward at intervals, its operation being controlled by the position of the receiving roller.

With this feeding device is combined a stop to prevent feeding of the impression sheets until the proper time, when it is automatic ally lifted just as the operation of the feeding device begins. The means for operating this stop is so arranged that after the feed of the impression sheet has begun, the stop is allowed to rest by gravity upon the sheet and it therefore serves to smooth the sheet out so that creasing of the same while passing between the copying-rollers is entirely avoided.

In the copying-machines heretofore provided, much difficulty has been experienced in obtaining uniform copies, due to differences in the pressure between the copying rollers at the opposite ends thereof. This pressure must be adjustable, in order to compensate for variations in the degree of dampness of the copying web and for differences in the ink and typewriter-ribbons used in writing upon the impression sheets.

In accordance with my invention, mech anism is provided whereby the pressure between the copying rollers is adjustable and is at all times equal throughout the length of the rollers. This is accomplished by providing means for exerting pressure upon the ends of one of the rollers from a single point equidistant from those ends. In addition to and the pressure devices, my invention includes other novel features, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central section of the machine; Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the receiving roller; Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the receiving roller and cutting device.

Referring to these drawings, the machine consists of frame members 1, 1, on which is the feeding and sheet-smoothing mechanismsecured a casing 2 having a supply roller 3 mounted for rotation therein. roller has a continuous web 4 of copyingpaper wound thereon and the casing 2 incloses this web so completely as to prevent evaporation of the moisture in the web, there being but a very narrow slit in the casing, through which the web is drawn. The web 4 is usually wound on a tube 4 and the roller 3 has strips 3 of spring metal secured thereto intermediate their ends. These strips are pressed inwardly when the tube 4 is passed on roller 3 and when released, their ends spring outwardly and hold tube 4 securely. Below the casing 2, two copying rollers 5 and 6 are mounted for rotation, the roller 6 in bearings carried by the side-frames 1 and the roller 5 in bearings also formed in the sideframes 1 but shaped to permit a small amount of lateral movement of the roller toward and away from the roller 6. On the shaft of the roller 5 is mounted a gear 7 meshing with a pinion 8 secured on a stub-shaft carried by a bearing on one of the side-framesl and having an operating handle 9 secured thereto. The contact of roller 5 with roller 6 causes the latter to rotate in unison with it. A feed-board 10 is mounted upon the sideframes 1 in such position with reference to the copying rollers that the impression sheets fed therefrom move over the upper surface of the roller 6 and are guided down- This supply wardly between the rollers 5 and 6 in contact one at either end having notches formed,

in their free ends adapted to receive pintles on the ends of a feed-roller 13. This roller is preferably of sectional construction, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Below the feed-roller 13 is a bar 14 having pintles at its ends resting at the bottom of V-shaped notches 14 (Fig. 1) formed on the inner sides of the side-frames 1. The under surface of this bar is curved to correspond to the curvature of the roller 6, and its edge is serrated to provide projections which extend into the spaces between the sections of the feed-roller 13. Secured to the bar 14 is an arm 15 extending under a stud 16 on one of the arms 12. In Fig. 1, the feed-roller 13 is shown as raised off of the surface of the copying roller 6, and the projections at the edge of the bar 14 rest by gravity upon the surface of that roller.

When the shaft 1 1 is rocked in its hearings to carry the feed-roller 13 downwardly to a position in which it rests upon the end of an impression sheet supported. by the copying roller 6, the stud 16 depresses the end of the arm 15 and thus rocks bar 14 in its bearings to raise the projections at its edge off of copying roller 6. The mechanism for rocking shaft 11 will be hereinafter described.

In order that uniform copies may be obtained, irrespective of the amount of moisture in the web of copying-paper and the character of the ink on the impression sheet, it is of great importance that the pressure between the copying-rollers 5 and 6 be equal througl-iout the length of these rollers and that this pressure be adjustable. As above stated, the bearings for the roller 5 are so formed as to permit lateral movement of that roller toward and away from the roller 6. In the side-frames 1 of the machine are openings to receive pins 17, the ends of which bear on the ends of the roller 5. One of these pins (that at the left in Fig. 3) is of greater length than the other and extends beyond the end of its opening in the side-frame, whereas the other terminates near the end of the opening in which it is received.

18 indicates a pressure-bar of U-shaped cross-section; the sides thereof lying one above and the other below a horizontally-disposed member 19 extending across between the side-frames 1. The member 19 has an opening therethrough to receive a pin 20 on which are secured two eccentrics 21 lying one above and the other below the bar 18, the latter being provided with slots through which pin 20 extends. To the ends of the pin 20 are secured arms 22 carrying an operating handle 23. The cams 21 are adapted to engage roll ers 21 carried by a pin 20 which extends through openings in the pressure-bar 18 and a slot in the member 19. One end of the bar 18 (that at the left in Fig. 3) bears against the end of the pin 17. In the other end of the bar is a threaded opening to receive a setscrew 24 having a knurled head 25 and a locknut 26 thereon. By this construction, movement of the handle 23 from a position at the right in Fig. 3 to the position in which it is illustrated in that figure carries the eccentries 21 around and forces the pressure-bar 18 toward the copying rollers, and in this movement the left end of the bar and the end of screw 24 engage the pins 17 and force them and the copying roller 5 with which they engage toward the copying roller 6. Since the pressures upon the opposite ends of the copying roller '5 are exerted from a single point equidistant from those ends, they must be equal as any inequality of pressure would cause an equalizing movement of the pres- 8O sure-bar about the axis of the eccentrics. In order to adjust this pressure, it is only neces sary to vary the position of the screw 24 in the threaded opening in the end of pressurebar 18, and when the desired position is obtained the lock-nut 26 may be screwed up to hold the screw firmly in that position. VVhatever the position of screw 24, the pressure on the ends of roller 5 is equalized by the movement of the pressure-bar 18.

Extending across between the side-frames 1, below the copying rollers, is a bar or roller 27 around which the web of copying-paper passes; this roller is so positioned that the web makes somewhat of an angle at this point in its passage from between the copying rollers 5 and 6 to the receiving roller. Pivotally mounted upon the side-frames are two arms 28 carrying at their free ends a stripper-pl ate 29. This plate has projections 30 on its under side adapted to coact with studs 31 upon the side-frames, to hold the stripper-plate 29 in its operative position. In this position, one edge of the stripper-plate extends in close proximity to or touches the web of copyingpaper at a point directly under the roller 27 On account of the bend in the web of copying-paper at the roller 27 and the position of the edge of the stripper-plate relative to that roller, an impression sheet moved along with the web is separated from the web at the roller 27 and its edge is caught by the edge of the stripper-plate 29; the stripper-plate then guides the impression sheet over and beyond it to a point where it falls into a suitable receiving tray. The support for the stripperplate 29 is so constructed that by lifting the outer edge of the plate until the projections 30 can pass over the studs 31 the plate can be swung around about the pivots of the arms 28 to a position in. which it permits free access to the parts of the machine, as, for instance, when threading the web of copying-paper through the machine.

The receiving roller consists of a shaft 32 mounted for rotation in bearings carried by the side-frames 1 and having loosely mounted thereon end-members 33. Secured on the shaft 32 are two disks 34, each lying against the inner side of one of the end-members 33 130 and to each of which are pivoted the ends of a plurality of links 35. The outer ends of corresponding links on the two disks 34 carry bars 36, the ends of which extend through the links 35 and into radial grooves 37 formed in the adjacent faces of the end-members 33. In the drawings, three of these bars and corresponding grooves are shown, but this number may be varied as desired. On one of the disks 34 is secured a spring-arm 38 carrying a stud 39 at its end, adapted to enter any one of a plurality of openings 40 in the end-member 33 adjacent thereto to hold the arm 38 and the disks 34 in any position to which they are moved relatively to the end-members 33. The two end-members 33 are secured to gether in the manner hereinafter described. it will be seen that by this construction movement of the arm 38 relatively to the end members 33 causes a corresponding movement of the disks 34 and moves the bars 36 toward and away from the shaft 32 of the receiving-roller in the grooves 37. The web of copying-paper is wound about the bars 36, and therefore this radial movement of the bars serves to increase or decrease the circumference of the receiving roller. As the web of copying-paper is out upon the receiving roller, it is important that all of the copies thereon lie in the same position upon the receiving roller, preferably each copy forming one complete convolution upon the receiving roller. For this reason, it is necessary, in order to adapt the machine for use with impression sheets of varying dimensions, that the circumferenceof the receiving roller be adjustable. With the construction shown, this adjustment can be readily obtained.

The means for binding the two endmem bers rigidly together consists of a bar 41 having a slot cut therein to cooperate with the knife-blade of the cutting device, and a bar 42 and strip 43 between which the end of the web of copying-paper is held. The

- strip 43 is pivotally mounted in the endmem bers 33 and a spring 44 is connected thereto and to the bar 41, in order to hold the strip in a position in which its free edge bears tightly upon the surface of the bar 42. One of the pivots of strip 43 is extended through the end-member 33 and carries an operating handle 43. It will be seen that the strip 43 is mounted directly in rear of the bar 41 around the receiving roller, and therefore when the web of copying-paper is cut at the bar 41, its end is of just sufficient length to permit folding it around the bar 42, while the strip 43 is held in the open position, and then moving the strip back to the position in which the spring 44 presses it against the end of the web on the bar 42. The web of copying-paper is wound around the bars 41 and 42 as well as the bars 36, but no adjustment of the bars 41 and 42 is necessary, since that of the bars 36 is sufficient for the purpose of varying the circumference of the receiving roller.

The knife blade 45 for cutting the web is carried by a bar 46 having inclined slots 47 cut therein and studs passing through these slots, such that when the bar 46 is moved lengthwise the blade 45 is carried forward to cut the web of copying-paper at the point where it passes over the slot in the bar 41. This lengthwise movement of bar 46 is effected by a pivoted handle 48 linked to that bar. Since it is important that the web be out only at the point where it passes over the slot in bar 41, I. provide means for locking the handle 48 against movement except when the receiving roller is in the proper position. This consists of a locking-lever 49 pivotally mounted upon one of the sideframes 1 and having one end adapted to coaot with a cam surface upon the periphery of one of the end-members This cam is so formed that it holds the pivoted lockinglever 49 in a position in which its other end 50 (Fig. 4) extends up through a slot in a bar 50 on which the bar 46 rests and. stands opposite the end of bar 46 at all times except when the slot in the bar 41 is opposite the knife-blade 45. WVhen the parts are in this position, the end of the lever 49 is carried by gravity into the notch in the end member 33 and the opposite end of the lever drops down below the level of bar 46 and permits operation of that bar. The receiving roller is rotated in unison with the copying rollers by a belt 51 running on pulleys secured one on the shaft 32 of the receiving roller and the other on the shaft of the copying roller 6. The shaft 32 may have a handle 52 secured on. its opposite end for convenience in obtaining proper adjustment of the parts.

Since the web of copying-paper is cut while wound upon the receiving roller, it is important that the impression sheets be fed into the machine at times dependent upon the position of the receiving roller, so that the copies will all be properly disposed thereon when the web is wound. For this reason, the rocking of the shaft 11 is effected by the receiving roller. Secured on this shaft is an arm 53 extending downwardly and carrying a roller 54 on its lower end coacting with a cam 55 mounted on the shaft 32 of the receiving roller. This cam and arm operate the rock shaft 11 in its bearings to raise the feed.- roller 13 and lower the stop 14, and vice versa, in order to feed the impression sheets into the machine at such times that the copies obtained therefrom will be wound on the receiving roller in such positions that the knife will cut the web at the center of the margins between adjacent copies.

In the operation of the machine, each im'- pression sheet is moved by hand over the board 10 until its forward edge engages the projections on the bar 14 which then rests by gravity upon the copying roller 6. Then as handle 9 is rotated, cam 55 rocks shaft 11 thus lowering the feed roller until it rests by gravity upon the forward edge of the sheet and, at the same time raising the projections on the edge of bar 14 by rocking the bar on its pivot. The rotation of roller 6 causes rotation of feed roller 13 and forwarding of the impression sheet, the edge of the latter passing under bar 14 and between the copying rollers in contact with the web. As soon as the forward edge of the sheet is between the copying rollers, cam 55 again rocks shaft 11 to raise the feed-roller and lower bar 14 and the projections at the edge of the bar, bearing by gravity upon the sheet smooth it out so that no creasing of the sheet takes place when the latter is passing between the copying-rollers.

In some cases it is desirable to mark each impression sheet while it is passing through the machine to indicate that it has been copied. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. In the drawings I have shown an extension 56 on one of the arms 12 carrying a printing roller 57 on the periphery of which printing characters are formed, as for instance, type for printing the word Copied. An inking roller 58 is also mounted on the arm 56 in contact with roller 57. WVhen the arm 12 is lowered the roller 57 bears on the impression sheet which is being fed into the machine and the circumference of the roller is such that it makes one complete revolution while the feed-roller is in the downward orfeeding position.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller on which a continuous web is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and impression sheets pass, means for rotating one of said rollers, a receiving roller on which the web is wound after passing between the copying rollers, comprising end-members and parts extending between the same, and means for moving said parts toward and from the center of the roller, substantially as set forth.

2. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller on which a continuous web is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and impression sheets pass, means for rotating one of said rollers, a receiving roller on which the webis wound after passing between the copying rollers, comprising end-members and a plurality of parts extending between the same, and an operating device for simultaneously moving said arts toward and away from the center 0 the receiving roller, substantially as set forth.

3. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller on which a continuous web is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and impression sheets pass, means for rotating one of said rollers, a receiving roller on which the web is wound after passing between the copying rollers, comprising end-members having grooves therein, parts extending between said end-members and entering said grooves at their ends, and rotatable members adjacent to said end-members and coacting with said parts to move them toward and away from the center of the roller, substantially as set forth.

4. In a copying machine, the combination of a pair of copying rollers between which the impression sheets and the copying web pass and means for holding said rollers in copying position and equalizing pressure between corresponding ends thereof comprising means for permitting movement of the ends of one of said rollers, rigid connections between each of said ends and a stationarily-mounted part equidistant between them, and adjustable devices in said connections, substantially as set forth.

5. In a copying machine, the combination of side-frames, a copying roller journaled therein, a second copying roller supported on the frames adjacent thereto, a cross-bar extending between the side-frames, a pressurebar pivotally mounted thereon, connections between the ends of said pressure-bar and the ends of one of said rollers, and means for varying the length of one of said connections, substantially as set forth.

6. In a copying machine, the combination of side-frames, a copying roller journaled therein, a second copying roller supported on the frames adjacent thereto, a cross-bar extending between the side-frames, a pressurebar pivotally mounted thereon, means for shifting the pivotal axis of said pressure-bar toward and away from one of said rollers, and connections between the ends of said pressure-bar and the ends of one of said rollers, substantially as set forth.

7. In a copying machine, the combination of sideframes, a copying roller journaled therein, a second copying roller supported on the frames adjacent thereto, a cross-bar extending between the side-frames, a pin in an opening therein, a cam on said pin, a pressure-bar supported on said cross-bar and adapted to be engaged and moved by said cam, and connections between the ends of said pressure-bar and the ends of one of said rollers, substantially as set forth.

8. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller on which a continuous web is wound, a pair of copying rollers between which the impression sheets and said web pass, a plurality of smoothing devices adapted to rest upon an impression sheet to smooth the same and prevent creasing thereof in passing through the machine, and a re-- ceiving roller on which the web is wound after passing between said copying rollers, substantially as set forth.

9. In a copying machine, a pair of copying rollers, a member resting on one of said rollers and forming a stop to prevent feeding impression sheets between said rollers, means for rotating one of said rollers and means for raising said member to permit feeding an impression sheet and lowering the same upon the sheet to smooth the same, substantially as set forth.

10. In a copying machine, a pair of copying rollers, a member resting on one of said copying rollers between roller, a knife for cutting the web upon the receiving 1; oller, and a movable device positioned by said receiving roller for preventlng the operation of said knife except when the rollers and forming a stop to prevent feeding impression sheets between said rollers, a sheet-feeding device, means for rotating one of said rollers, and means for moving said member away from the adj acent roller, operating said feeding device and moving said member toward said roller until it rests upon the sheet to smooth the same, substantially as set forth.

11. In a copying machine, a pair of copy ing rollers, a member resting on one of said rollers and forming a stop to prevent feeding impression sheets between said rollers, a r0- tatable sheet-feeding device movable toward and away from the roller on which said member rests, means for rotating one of said rollers, and means for moving said member away from the adjacent roller, moving said feeding device toward the roller and operating said device and moving said member toward said roller until it rests upon the sheet to smooth the same, substantially as set forth.

12. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller on which a continuous web is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and impression sheets pass, a guide over which the web moves after passing from the copying rollers, a receiving roller on which the web is wound after passing between said co ying rollers and a stripperplate movable from an operative position in which its edge extends in proximity to said guide to an inoperative position in which it permits access to the parts of the machine, substantially as set forth.

13. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller upon which a continuout web of copying paper is wound, two

ons web of 1mpression sheets are receiving roller is in a predetermined substantially as set forth.

14. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller upon which a continucopying paper is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and impression sheets pass, a receiving roller on which the web is wound, means for rotating one of said copying rollers and said receiving roller, a knife for cutting the web upon the receiving roller, a lever, and a cam surface on the receiving roller for operating said lever to prevent the operation of said knife except when the receiving roller is in a predetermined position, substantially as set forth.

15. In a copying machine, the combination of a supply roller upon which a continuous web of copying paper is wound, two copying rollers between which the web and impression sheets pass, a receiving roller on which the web is wound, means for rotating one of said copying rollers and said receiving roller, means for cutting the web upon the receiving roller, a feed-board from which the fed, and means for imprinting upon the impression sheets as they pass through the machine, substantially as set forth.

16. In a copying machine, the combinaposition,

tion of a supply roller, strips of spring-metal secured thereon and lying substantially transverse to the axis of the roller, the ends of said strips extending yieldingly outward from the surface of the roller, a tube held on said roller by said strips, a web of copying paper wound on said tube, two copying rollers between which the web and the impression sheets pass, and means for operating one of said rollers, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of November, 1906.

AUGUSTUS D. KLABER. Witnesses:

I. MOINTOSH, D. EDWARDS. 

